The Binker Files: February 2017

Photo Albums

Quotes

Actual happiness looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand. - Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Education
"Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education." -David Polis
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it... but by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one becomes to feeling ill... Thus if one just keeps walking, everything will be all right." -Soren Kierckgaard
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. Annie Dillard

February 04, 2017

Winter

Mt Abram opened on December 10th, Silas and Caleb were in line at 8:00am and rode the first chair at 9.

They have their own private sledding hill when the mountain is closed.

Bun Bun has turned out to be a great pet, except for his bad habit of chewing power cords. One night he went on a rampage and chewed through every single power cord in the living room (lamps, stereo, roku, speaker wires).

Mark went on a Christmas cookie baking spree, using his Mom's cookbook.

Arlo really enjoyed Christmas this year. He purchased a lot of bows and wrapping paper and spent a considerable amount of time wrapping household items, old toys, fruit, and even notes to give as gifts.

The boys picked out a special gift for Mark, and even made the box:

We are so much warmer this winter with our old wood stove hooked up.

We had such an easy Christmas tree hunt this year, found this little beauty in the woods right behind our house.

Mark discovered maple syrup pie while in the Yukon, it has since become our new favorite holiday dessert.

This time of year, it is mostly skiing, but every now and then we venture out and do other things, like head to Portland eat at J's.

New Year's Eve:

Silas arrives at the lifts an hour before they open. He usually gets to ride up early while doing trail checks for the ski patrol. You can see him here with Caleb and two ski patrollers, checking out the new, closed trail Wassamatta U:

The ski gang usually consists of 8-12 kids.

Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge trophy winner:

Posted at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Fall 2016

I have gotten far behind on the blog once again, but will attempt to recap the past 5 months. Levi and Arlo playing on Duane's Retreat:

During a hike to a pegmatite mine on Noyes Mountain:

Silas having his chickens tested for NPIP:

Sunflowers were harvested and saved for a special winter chicken treat.

In the late fall, we had a chicken situation. We had 40 meat birds to process and our brand new chicken plucker didn't work. I just wasn't up for hand plucking that many birds, so Silas and I squeezed 45 chickens into the van and drove them 1.5 hours away to a processor. In just under an hour, all the birds (including 6 annoying roosters - including Earl Gray Cuteness Chicken) were bagged, placed in coolers, and we were on the way home.

Arlo spent some time as a secret agent.

Levi made some awesome paper crafts.

The boys did a workshop at Circus Maine after seeing Pedal Punk.

Silas became a teenager! We spent his birthday visiting the Titanic Exhibit at Portland Science Center, then returned home for dinner, cake, legos, and a chicken movie.